The recent European Marine Ecosystem Report, published by the European Environment Agency, has analyzed the serious threats posed by the overexploitation of marine resources, pollution, and climate change.
Urgent action is needed to restore Europe's oceans to good condition and reverse decades of neglect of environmental protection and ecological resources.
The European Environment Agency's recent report, "Marine Information II," highlights that the current state of Europe's oceans is generally poor. This news is concerning because the oceans' condition affects our quality of life and economic standards. The oceans provide oxygen, food, a livable climate, and raw materials, and are vital to our recreation, leisure, and health.
Inger Andersen, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, has stated that "A major issue is the fate of plastic breakdown products, such as microplastics and chemical additives, many of which are known to be toxic and harmful to human and wildlife health, as well as ecosystems."
Plastic pollution from water sources can affect the human body in several ways, leading to hormonal changes, developmental disorders, reproductive abnormalities, and cancer. Plastics can be ingested through seafood, beverages, and even salt. When suspended in the air, they can be inhaled and penetrate the skin.
From the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, our constant extraction of marine resources has slowly changed the composition of marine species and their habitats, causing changes in the overall physical and chemical composition of the oceans. Climate change is worsening the effects of other threats.
According to a report released by the European Environment Agency, the combined effects of these changes are gradually creating irreversible damage to marine ecosystems. However, the report also notes that marine ecosystems in some areas are showing signs of recovery due to a decade-long effort to reduce certain impacts such as pollutants, eutrophication, and overfishing.
For the first time, all data submitted by EU member states to the Commission is available on a dedicated WISE-Marine website, along with data products and visualization tools from the EU State of the Marine Environment Overview.
The EU's marine economy continues to grow, and competition for marine resources such as fish, fossil fuel, mineral or renewable energy production, and space is expected to increase.
This will put additional pressure on already overexploited marine ecosystems. To avoid this, economic growth needs to move away from degrading and depleting marine ecosystems and to keep the use of marine resources within sustainable limits.
Lessons learned from previous EU and regional policy implementation should be taken into account when taking action to restore the cleanliness, health, and productivity of the oceans.
With political determination, more resources, and greater coordination and policy integration among stakeholders, Europe is hopeful of achieving "good environmental status" for the oceans by 2030 within the existing EU policy regime. To achieve this goal, the pressure on marine ecosystems must be reduced.
The new EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, which aims to protect 30% of Europe's oceans and 10% of them in strict protection, brings a new impetus to reduce the pressure on marine ecosystems.
Achieving a good state of Europe's oceans will help achieve the sustainable blue economy and marine spatial planning goals embodied in the European Green Deal.
